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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Wisconsin Assembly Democrats have run out of rope and will soon be forced to vote on Governor Walker's budget fix legislation. The bill is expected to pass, as Republicans control both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature:

The Wisconsin State Assembly has reached an agreement to cut off debate on GOP Gov. Scott Walker's budget-fix bill and hold a vote later Thursday.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that state lawmakers will likely vote on the proposal, which would force public employees to pay some of their pension and healthcare benefits and would limit their collective bargaining rights. The measure is expected to pass the Assembly, where Republicans have a 60-38 advantage over Democrats, and head to the state Senate for consideration.

Fourteen Democratic senators have fled the state for Illinois to boycott the legislation. Without a quorum, the Senate cannot take up the bill. The deal was announced at around 6 a.m. on Thursday after debate in the Assembly lasted 40 hours. The deal would cut off debate around noon on Thursday.

Your move, fleebaggers.

UPDATE: In a development that should surprise exactly nobody (except, perhaps, Dick Durbin), a new nationwide survey shows that a large majority of voters frown upon legislators who flee their posts to avoid tough votes:

Half of America’s voters favor public sector unions for government workers, but they strongly oppose the tactic by Wisconsin state senators to flee their state to prevent a vote that would limit the rights of such unions.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 25% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of this tactic, while 67% disapprove. State legislators in Indiana have used the same approach to avoid a vote in their state.